Steam-heating apparatus.



; WMWM 3% M. P. OSBOURN.

STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3. 1908.-

1,185,128, Patented May 30,1916.

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anuento z q Vih wwo I M. PLOSBOURN. STEAM HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3. 1908.

1,185,128. v Patented May 30,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- F/G. 3 as ES PATENT OFFICE.

MILLARD; 11 osnoURN, or MEROHANTVILLE, NEW JERsEY, AssIoNoR -'ro WARREN wERs'rER & COMPANY. A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Ietters Patent Application filed July 3, 1908. Serial No. 441,749.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it 'known that I, MILLARD P. OSBOURN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Merchantville and county of Camden, State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Steam-Heating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to steam heating apparatus and consists of certain provements fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompany ing drawings which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provlde a construction of low pressure steam heating system especially adapted for small buildings, in which an eflicient ut1l1z at1on of the steam may be had in the radlators by the elimination of the air and water of condensation therefrom, and the said water of condensation returned to the boiler.

My object is also to provide a low pressure system of steam heating, in WhlCl'l the air expelled from the radiators, may freely escape to the atmosphere and be moved from the circulation, while preventing any excess of air being admitted into steam under the influence of a vacuum being created in the radiators when supplying steam to the radiators when in a cold condition.

My invention consists in the employment of radiators, supply and return pipes,

means for regulating the supply of steam to the radiators, and automatic valves between the radiators and return pipes for permitting the escape of water and an therefrom into the returns while restricting or substantially preventing the escape of steam, and automatic means for permitting the escape of the air from the return pipes into the atmosphere while preventmg an inflow of air thereto.

My invention further consists in the heating apparatus above specified when combined with automatic means for transferring the water of condensation from the return pipes to the boiler without permitradiators and return pipe for permitting the escape of'water and air into the return pipe but restricting or preventing the escape of steam from the radiators.

My-invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the features above s ecified, will be better understood by re erence to the drawings, in which:-

Figure 1' is an elevation representing diagrammatically a steam heating system embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the relief valve for the air vent pipes of the return pipes; Fig. 3 is a cross section of one of the automatic return valves, Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating a modification of my. invention, and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating another modification of the invention.

2 are the radiators, and 3 are the steam supply pipes leading from the. boiler or steam generator 5, from which steam is delivered to the radiators by suitable valves 4. by which varying quantities of steam may be supplied to the radiators.

6 are the return pipes and connect with the radiators by short branches containing" automatic return valves 7, which are so con structed as to permit the discharge of accumulated Water of condensation from the ra diators into the return pipes, as well as the escape of air-from the radiators into the return pipes, while restricting or preventing Patented May 30, 1916.

by gravity. The return trap 14 may be of any suitable construction, there being nuting pressure from said boiler to extend into m'erous traps upon the market which may be employed for this purpose, therefore that shown is by way of illustration only. In the particular construction illustrated, the water passes from the pipe 12 through a check valve 13, and into the body of the trap where it accumulates. As the water rises, it lifts the float 19 which, through 119 suitable lever and link connections 20, opens a steam valve 18, controlling the supply of steam from the boiler through the pipe 17 into the top of the trap 14. Upon the entrance of the steam, equilibrium is established in the pressures of the trap and the boiler, and the water then flows from the trap body through the check valve 16 and pipe into the boiler, until the level in the trapbecomes lowered sufficiently to cause the steam valve 18 to be closed. The trap 14 is arranged at or above the level of the v water in the boiler and, where the space admits of it, would preferably be arranged 1'5 somewhat above the water level of the boiler so as to more equally discharge into the boiler when the equilibrium in pressures is established. The check valve 13 prevents steam from passing backward into the return pipes and the pipe12 will collect and hold the water of condensationduring the time that the steam is admitted to the trap. From convenient points in the return pipe 6, I connect air pipes 8 for relieving the return pipes of the air which they may receive from the radiators, and these pipes 8 may discharge directly to the atmosphere above the radiators, and preferably they discharge through a pipe 9 and a relief valve 10 therein. This relief valve is shown in Fig. 2 and is made in the form of a check-valve in which the valve piece 11 is preferably hung in such a manner that it offers practically no I resistance to the escape of the air, while being in position to prevent any inflow of air into the system should a partial vacuum be created therein when turning steam on to one or more of the radiators when in a cold state. As shown, this relief valve comprises a valve piece pivoted above the valve seat and hanging by gravity so as to rest substantially against or adjacent to the seat without any pressure. However, while I prefer this construction of reliefvalve shown in Fig. 2, any check-valve or other device which will permit the escape of air without material back pressure and while preventing the inflow of air, may be used in place of the preferred form. It is also evident that the sealing of the outlet of the air pipe 9 under the normal operations is not essential so long as the valve device will operate automati-' cally to be responsive to check any material inflow of air into the system in case of the existence of a partial vacuum therein, as aforesaid. v

The automatic valve 7 illustrated, is excellently adapted for the purposes of my invention. The general construction of this valve is shown in Fig. 3. It comprises the body part having a valve seat 25 upon which a valve piece 26 seats. The valve piece is tubular and is provided with a float 23, the upper part of the tubular valve'piece being 685 open. A stem 28 from the'cap or bonnet of the valve extends down through the tubular valve piece and guides it, while at the same time, forming an annular duct of small sectional area. There may be, surrounding the float 23, an apron as indicated by the dotted lines at 27. In the operation of this valve the air may be caused to escape into the return pipe through the annular duct between the stem 28 and the tubular piece 26 but, this being a capillary duct, it restricts the escape 7 of steam by causing it to condense and seal the said duct to a greater or less extent whenever the steam attempts to pass. The water of condensation from the radiator collects in the lower part of the valve body and when it'accumulates it lifts the float and with it,

the valve piece, to permit the water to escape through the valve seat 25) Before all the water has passed through, the valve piece again seats itself and the valve operates as before. From this it will be seen that, the air and water are removed from' the radiator as fast as they accumulate, while the steam isprevented from escaping in any material quantities. Furthermore it is evident that air valves on the radiators may be dispensed with. It will also be seen that while the water is intermittently removed at intervals and only when it sufliciently accumulates, the air is being removed at all times as fast as a5 it is liberated within the radiator. We have, therefore, a continuous means for removing the air and the intermittent means for removing the water and a positive means for restricting or preventing the escape of steam, all of which is important to the most successful operation of this invention.

While I have described the preferred form of return valve for use in connection with my improved heating system, I do not re- 1 strict myself to any particular character of automatic return valve, as long as it permits the escape of the air and water into the return pipe, while restricting or preventing the escape of, steam from the radiators, as 11 any valve or device capable of performing these functions may be employed in the heating system intended to be defined in this application.

There is a possibility of the relief valve 10 requiring some attention'from time to time, and moreover as it may be inconvenient to locate it at the top of the house or build ing,'I may arrange the said relief valve in the basement substantially in the manner indicated in Fig. 4:. In this modification, I prefer the return pipe 6 to drain into a tank 21 from which the water may be delivered to the boiler through the steam trap 14:. From the upper part of the tank 21 the relief pipe 9 may extend and connect with the relief valve 10, the said relief valve discharging into an air pipe 22 leading upward to the roof or other place communicating with the atmosphere. The lower part 139 of the pipe, 22 may be connected with one leg of a U shaped water seal pipe 24, the other leg of the said seal being connected with the tank 21'. In this manner the water of condensation which might, under some.

conditions, run down the pipe 22, is-delivered to the tank 21 through the water seal 24 thereby preventing the Water accumulating against'the discharge side of the relief valve 10 and impressing thereon a back pressure and also a resistance by freezing. The water seal 24 ismade sufliciently deep to require a greater vacuum within the system to break it than would occur in said system under the conditions hereinbefore referred to, and it would-"therefore prevent any'ingress of air.

While the delivery of the water of condensation from the air or relief pipe 22 to the return pipe or tank 21 may be accomplished through a waterseal as at 24 such seal may be substituted by a float trap as indicated at 24 in Fig. 5, as such a trap will allow the accumulations of water to pass into the tank 21 while preventing any passage of air thereto in case of a partial vacuum temporarily existing in the return pipes from causes hereinbefore mentioned.

I have shown the air relief pipe connecting with the return pipe directly or indirectly through the tank 21 above ,where the water ordinarily collects adjacent to the steam trap so that the air may freely escape without being interfered with by the water of condensation; and this air pipe is preferably provided with an automatic device to prevent-the inflow of air into the system.

While the air which may be in the trap 14 may find its way into the boiler 5 through a pipe 17 when the valve 18 opens and the steam admitted to the trap, it is preferable to provide means for allowing the air to es cape to a place of less resistance as is customary in such traps.- This may be accomplished by employing the air pipe 30 leading from the trap and through which the air may be driven when the valve 18 is opened to admit steam. Ordinarily this air escapes to the atmosphere, but I prefer to have it pass into the return pipe 12 as shown in vFig. 1 or into the tank 21 as shown in Fig. 4. I also prefer to arrange in said pipe 30 a check valve 31 which will prevent the air passing in a reverse direction or into the trap, for the following reasons: When the water within the trap has been caused to flow into the boiler the valve 18 is closed and as the pressure within the trap is lowered the water from the returns flows into it and condenses the remaining steam and tend to produce a partial vacuum within the trap, ,but this .is made effective for 'speedily drawing the water into the trap because the check valve 31 in the air pipe prevents air being drawn into the trap through the air pipe, which would otherwise be the case with traps as ordinarily constructed. This is useful in vsecuring a speedy return of the water of condensation to the boiler and especially so in starting up the plant and in very cold weather, when much water of condensation is produced. Therefore, while the pipe 30 and check valve 31 are essential their employment makes the apparatus more responsive.

While I have shown the use of a steam trap for returning the water from the return pipe into the boiler, it is-to be understood that any other suitable means adapted for such purpose may be employed in lieu thereof in the embodiment of my invention into commercial use.

In the foregoing description of my invention I have assumed a normal operation wherein the pressure carried by the boiler, while low, is nevertheless a material one and in which the pressure in the return pipe is atmospheric pressure. In case, in, very small being excellently adapted for the purposes of my invention, the details-thereof may be modified 'or Varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. 7

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1. In a low pressure steam heating system the combination of radiators, a boiler, a steam supply pipe from the boiler to the radiators, valves to control thesupply of steam to the radiators, a return pipe from the radi a.- tors for returning the water of condensation from the radiators, automatic means for returnin the water from the return pipe to the boiler, relief' devices for permitting the air to escape from the return pipe di rectly into the atmosphere while preventing air in material quantities entering therein consisting of an air pipe in communication with the return pipe above where the water collects and having therein an outwardlyleading from the boiler to the radiators, a return pipe leading from the radiators, return valves between the radiators and return pipe for permitting the passage of water and air but restricting the flow of steam, a closed tank into which the return pipe discharges, a trap controlled by the level of the watertherein for intermittently delivering the water from the closed tank to the rovidin two assa es communicatin with memes the return pipe of the system one 'of which a check valve arranged in the passage which is above the normal Water level in the return pipe to permit the passage of air from the 55 boiler, an air vent pipe leading to a. point return pipe into the air relief pipe but preabove' the closed" tank and provided at the venting passage of air in theopposite direcbottom with two connections opening into tion, and. sealing means arranged in the the said tank, one of said connections being other passage communicating with the air provided with acheck valve which permits relief pipe which permits the passage of so air to pass from the tank into the air pipe water from the air relief pipe into the rebut prevents the flow of air in the reverse turn pipe of the system but prevents the direction, and the other of which connecpassage of air in the opposite direction. tions comprises a water seal arranged at a 5. In a steam heating system, the comlower elevation than the check valve for rebination of a boiler, radiators, a supply and turning the water of condensation from the a return pipe leading from the boiler to said air pipe into the closed tank. radiators and from said radiators to the 3. In a steam heating system the combiboiler, respectively, said parts forming a nation of a boiler, radiators, a supply and a circulatory system, an air relief pipe comreturn pipe leading from the boiler to said municating with the return pipe above the radiators and from said radiators to the normal-water level therein, said pipe beboiler, respectively, said parts forming a ciring provided with a check valve for preculatory system, an air relief pipe commuventing the return of air therethrough and nicating with the return pipe above the norbeing freely open to the atmosphere beyond mal water level therein, said pipe being prosaid check valve, a sealing means located 0 vided with a check valve for preventing the between the lower part of the air relief pipe return of air therethrough and being freely and the circulatory system and communiopen-to the atmosphere beyond said check eating with the air relief pipe beyond the valve, and a sealed drip pipe communicatcheck valve therein and arranged for returning with said air relief pipe beyond said ing the Water of condensation from said check valve for returning the water of conair relief pipe to the circulatory system but densation from said air relief pipe to the preventing the inflow of air thereto, and a circulatory system. float controlled means for intermittently re- 4. In a steam heating system, the combiturning the water fromthe return pipe to nation of a boiler, radiators, a supply pipe the boiler.

40 and a return pipe leading from the boiler In testimony of which invention, 1 have tpl said Iradiators andlfrom- (siaid radifators to hereunto set my hand.

t e boi er,-respective y, sai parts ormin a circulatory system, an air relief pipe ex MILLARD OSBOURN' tending above the normal water level in the Witnesses:

system and opening to the atmosphere and R. M. KELLY,

E. M. EAMEs. 

